Woodland Retreat

Hotel Description

You know, I’ve driven past St Ives Holiday Village loads of times heading to the main beaches, but I’d never actually stayed at Woodland Retreat until last spring. Honestly? I was kicking myself for waiting so long. The place sits right on Oakleigh Street – which is basically the quiet side of the village where you get all the perks of being close to everything without the constant stream of day-trippers trudging past your window with their beach gear. It’s one of those spots where you can actually hear the waves from Porthkidney Beach when the wind’s right, but you’re tucked away enough that parking isn’t a nightmare (trust me, that matters around here, especially in summer).

What really got me was how they’ve managed to keep that proper retreat feeling without going all fancy-resort on you. The rooms have this sort of understated comfort thing going on – nothing flashy, but everything works properly and feels genuinely relaxing. I mean, the beds are actually comfortable, which sounds basic but you’d be surprised how many places get that wrong. The whole property has this woodland vibe that somehow doesn’t feel forced, probably because there are actual mature trees everywhere rather than newly planted saplings trying their best. You’ll spot red squirrels if you’re patient – saw three during my stay, which the staff mentioned is pretty typical. The grounds connect to some lovely walking paths that’ll take you toward Lelant Saltings if you’re into that sort of ramble, though honestly, most people just use them for a peaceful morning coffee walk.

Here’s the thing about this area that most visitors don’t realize – you’re actually perfectly positioned for both the touristy St Ives experience and the more authentic Cornish coast stuff. The branch line train to St Ives proper runs regularly from Lelant (it’s about a ten-minute walk), which means you can do the whole gallery-hopping, pasty-eating, crowded harbor thing without dealing with car parks that cost more than your lunch. But then you come back to Woodland Retreat and it’s quiet again, especially in the evenings when the day visitors have cleared out. The staff really know their stuff about local recommendations too – they pointed me toward this brilliant coastal path section that starts just past Carbis Bay, which I definitely wouldn’t have found on my own. Sure, it’s not the most luxurious place you’ll ever stay, and the WiFi can be a bit temperamental in some rooms (though honestly, isn’t that half the point of a retreat?), but there’s something genuinely restorative about the whole setup. If you’re looking for that sweet spot between proper comfort and actually feeling like you’ve escaped somewhere special, this place delivers.

Facilities